The Soul of Fasting, Tract
THE SOULE OF FASTING: OR AFFECTIONS Requiſite in a Day of, ſolemne Faſting and Humiliation.
According to the Pattern,
Neh. 9.5. &c.
By H. P
Imprimatur.
Charles Herle.
LONDON; Printed by M. Simmons for Thomas Ʋnderhill at the Bible in Woodſtreet. 1644.
Chriſtian Reader,
FRom the Experience, that oftentimes a little thing helps the Weake, and ſpecially the Willing; and from the Deſire to prevent the great Evill of Formalitie in our ſolemne Humiliations; Theſe few Advertiſements are offred to thy Eye and heart. Confident that the Subſtance of them is beyond Depiſing, except among thoſe, who not onelyonly Deny, but Deſpiſe all the Power of Godlineſſe. I have ventured to ſend them out, thus naked and alone. If they Profit thee any thing, thy Prayers may helpe to quicken to Some further endeavour for thy Good, him who is devoted
Novemb. 20. 1644. Thine and the Churches ſervant in Chriſt altogether, H. P.
The Soule of Faſting. Nehem. 9.5, &c.
1. AN Awfull Regard and Reverence of the Glorious Majeſty of the Great God, with whom we have to doe by a through Apprehenſion of His Infinite and Incomprehenſible Perfection, in all His Attributes, and of His Abſolute Soveraigntie, as Creator, Preſerver, and Ruler of Us and all things in the World, ver. 6.
2. Thankfulneſſe for all the Goodneſſe of GOD vouchſafed to us, by a Large Apprehenſion of all His manifold Favour, Generall to His Church, to Our Nation, Particular to Us, and our Friends, Temporall, Spirituall; Illuſtrated marvellouſly by our Deſervings, not onelyonly of no good, but of extreame ill, ver. 7. &c.
3. Sorrow for Our Sinnes, and our Nations, and Forefathers Sinnes, by a deep apprehenſion of the curſed Nature of Sinne in Generall, and vileneſſe of ſuch Sinnes in Particular; Aggravated by all circumſtances that may be; Specially by GODS Mercies and Chaſtiſements, ver. 16. &c.
4. Sence of Our Miſery, Felt and Feared, all proceeding from GODS Hand, from His Diſpleaſure, Provoked by Our Sinnes, and Impoſsible to be avoyded, but by His Favour, which is not to be preſumed upon, if We continue in Our Sinnes, ver. 32. &c.
5. Faith in the Covenant, Truth, Goodneſſe, and Power of GOD, for all times and purpoſes, ver. 32.
6. A Covenant renued with GOD of all Obſervance and Fidelitie, ſpecially to Amend what we have acknowledged amiſſe in our ſelves, and profeſſed Sorrow for, and Feare of, before GOD or Men, or both, ver. 39. and Chap. 10. throughout.
Directions about theſe.
1. IN the Word read or preached, thoſe things are to be moſt carefully obſerved, which may quicken and confirme any of theſe.
2. All theſe are to be preſented in Prayer, Summarily in every ſolemne Supplication ſuch a day, private or publick: but the enlargements may be varied, and one while more of one; and another while of another.
3. Before-hand it would be greatly helpfull to have written by us; 1. Amplifications upon GODS Attributes; 2. Catalogues of Choicer Mercies; 3. Catalogues of Sinnes; 4. Aggravations of Sinnes.
4. The Day is to be begun with thoſe thoughts, ſpecially which relate to our ſelves, though taking in others alſo.
5. And it is not to be ended without ſome ſecret, yet ſolemne review of the ſoules behaviour, from firſt to laſt; and an earneſt Labouring to faſten all the good thoughts it hath had, upon it, and to reinforce the ſute to GOD, to ſettle them upon it, firmely and laſtingly.
The GOD of All Wiſedome and Grace, teach us to practiſe and improve theſe Remembrances, to His Glory, and Our Eternall Good by Jeſus Chriſt.
FINIS.
End of the text · Herbert Palmer, The Soul of Fasting (1644)